OUR MISSION/HISTORY

On December 4, 2017 Andy “Big Bear” Suerth died suddenly while on vacation with his family. Andy was a very well respected Police Officer for the city of Brooklyn Park, MN, a founding father of our beer-league hockey team, the Goats, and one of the best guys around. If you knew Andy, you loved Andy.

After we lost our brother, we decided to memorialize him by combining some of his (and our) favorite things… hockey, beers, and having a great time with friends. Soon after, the Big Bear Hockey Classic was created for all first responders (and friends) welcome to participate.

In April of 2019, we held our first hockey tournament, raising money for a former partner of Andy’s at Brooklyn Park PD, Emily Krob who was battling an aggressive form of cancer.

On the heels of the success of our first tournament, we formed the Big Bear Foundation so we could continue to help make a difference in the lives of the brave men and women making a difference every day on the streets. Each year, this tournament will be held in Big Andy’s honor, raising money for a deserving first responder who is in need of monetary support.

Since our inception in 2018, we have raised over $68,000 for our beneficiaries and their families through this tournament.

2019 - Brooklyn Park PD Officer Emily Krob
2020 - Bloomington PD Officer Matt Ryan.
2021 - Savage PD Officer Rob Calvin
2022 - Ramsey Co Deputy Brandon Berg
2023 - Golden Valley PD Assistant Chief Terry Sleavin
2024 - Ramsey Co Deputy Dallas Edeburn

This year’s beneficiary is the family of St Paul Police Officer Shawn Filiowich.

“Shawn Filiowich, 52 passed away in the early morning of January 4th , 2025 after a 73 day battle against pancreatic cancer. Shawn was a wonderful husband, father, son, brother and friend…. He was a dedicated Officer with the St. Paul Police Department for just over 28 years. He grew up in St. Paul and it was his dream to work for this police department.

Shawn leaves a huge hole in many people’s hearts. When he walked into a room, you knew he was there. He filled it with jokes and laughter. He would give everyone a hard time…. If you were the subject of his teasing, you knew you were his friend.

He loved life and tried to live it to it’s fullest. Shawn loved to hunt, fish, go winter camping with his family, cut trees and do “fun” work at the cabin, play games in the backyard and sing karaoke around the campfire. Shawn was a storyteller, and you didn’t always know when his story was true or if it was exaggerated a little bit. He enjoyed pulling you in and wanted you to be part of the story.

Shawn loved being a cop and doing his job, but at the end of the day when he left to go home he left everything at work. Once he was home, he was just a normal guy spending time with his family, neighbors and friends.

Shawn went out of his way to help many over the years – but to him, he was “Just doing my job”… he never felt that he was doing extra and felt embarrassed when called out on a good deed.

Shawn wasn’t perfect as he was human just like everyone, but he was an “extra-special” human. His life was cut short… it ended much too young. But we tried to see some of the positives that he was given….

He was able to raise 2 awesome daughters. They are the young women that they are now because of him. He had time in the last few days to speak from the heart and have conversations that others are robbed of. Shawn will never be replaced, and the world is a little less enjoyable without him. He will be missed everyday and leaves a legacy for others to follow.” ~ Rochelle Filiowich

If you would like to help support Shawn’s family, please click on the “donate” button at the top of the page. All proceeds will go directly to his family.